Tips For Preparing Your Home For Sale

Detach Your EmotionsRemember, you are about to sell this house and the goal is to create a space in which as many people as possible will be able to envision as their potential home. To properly prepare your home for sale you will have to pack away many of your personal items, including photos, souvenirs and other mementos.

Clean And ReOrganizeClean your home from top to bottom and make sure all appliances are spotless. Reorganize the closets and pack away some of your belongings. Storage room is a priority for buyers and a full closet does a poor job of showcasing the amount of storage room avaialble. If you're using a spare room for storage, pack away the clutter and ensure the space is properly furnished.

Furnish Empty Properties And RoomsPeople buy homes not houses. Empty rooms make it hard for buyers to get a good sense of the space. Large rooms look cavernous and small rooms look even smaller when empty. Oddly shaped rooms make it especially hard for buyers to visualize how to arrange the room. Staging your empty property with the right furniture is key to ensuring that buyers will be able to visualize living in the space.

Brighten And LightenLight-filled rooms are always appealing. Open blinds and make sure your windows are sparkling clean. If there are no windows in the room, make sure the lighting is adequate and keep all the lights on when showing the property, even during the day. A fresh coat of neutral coloured paint goes a long way to brighten up the space.

Spark Your Buyers ImaginationSet the dinner table for a formal dinner, light the fireplace on a cold day and add some fresh flowers to your decor. Creating the proper atmosphere helps buyers envision themselves living in your home.

Fix Minor RepairsBuyers prefer to see a home in move-in condition, even small things such as a dripping faucet can detract from the value of your home.

Don't Be Too UniqueKeep your decor simple and modern with neutral wall colours. Unusual accessories and strong wall colours will limit your pool of buyers. This is also true for renovations. The right renovations can often boost the price of a home but be careful not to do with too much flair. Your unique style may set you apart but it will also shrink your potential pool of buyers. Remember to keep it simple and modern.

Improve SecurityHousehold security is a sought after feature in homes and simple measures such as adding window locks and motion sensor lights outside can boost the attractiveness of your property. In densely populated urban areas, simple additions such as blinds and shutters are good additions to provide privacy.

Curb AppealHow important is the exterior look of your property? First impressions really do count. If the impact of your curb appeal is strong, people will want to see what is inside.Cut the lawnCut and trim the shrubsRemove dead tree limbs and other yard debrisBrighten up the garden with fresh shrubs and flowersGet rid of the clutter - put away toys and gardening equipmentTouch up peeling paint on doors, siding and trimRepair and paint the fenceFix damaged roof shingles and flashingClean windows, replace broken panes and fix torn screensClean gutters and downspoutsWash the driveway and sidewalk. Patch cracks or holesClean up the garage and shedMake sure outside lights and doorbells work

DWAYNE DeCALUWE

Sales Representative

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